Burns Confirmed Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

The US Senate confirmed the appointment of Nicholas Burns, a former US ambassador to NATO and State Department spokesman, as under secretary of state for political affairs.

The under secretary of state for political affairs is the department's third-ranking job.

The Senate also approved David Welch, a former ambassador to Egypt who has served in Riyadh, Amman and Damascus, as assistant secretary for near eastern affairs, the top US diplomat on the Middle East.